Statement by AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine on #ShutDownSTEM/#ShutDownAcademia


Statement by AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine 
on #ShutDownSTEM/#ShutDownAcademia

June 10, 2020

AERA supports #ShutDownSTEM/#ShutDownAcademia as one visible way to send the message that we stand strong in our commitment to eradicate racism and institutionalized violence in all forms. AERA was not able to shut down operations today. Among the long-planned organizational activities underway was a four-hour virtual professional development course this afternoon for 270 participants and preparations for a webinar tomorrow on a research opportunity being offered by the Institute of Education Sciences, for which more than 1,800 people have registered. 

In his May 31 statement in response to the killing of George Floyd, AERA President Shaun Harper said, “As a community of researchers, we must unite to take bold, evidence-based action that exposes and ultimately ends the catastrophic police killings of unarmed Black people." 

We are at a critical turning point in society, where science can serve the public good, and we at AERA intend to take affirmative steps to make that happen. We are undertaking new programming to add education research to the larger public conversation on this issue. President Harper and I also want to thoughtfully gather suggestions for ways AERA members across the field can work together to make a collective impact. Through its programming, convenings, and other organizational channels, AERA is committed to taking concrete steps to fight racism in academia and throughout society.